MIDI problems - how do I get my instruments to cooperate?

Hey everyone,

So I've got several pieces of equipment:

Custom Windows XP PC with Delta 1010LT
KRK Rokit 8 near field monitors, and SP10S sub
2 MIDI devices - a Roland HandSonic 10 and a Yamaha PSR-240 (basic MIDI keyboard).

I've got things wired like this:

Keyboard -> Handsonic -> Computer, and I am getting signals in my MIDI applications (Reason and Battery) from the Handsonic, but not from the keyboard. If I switch the layout to:

Handsonic -> Keyboard -> Computer, then the opposite happens, and I only get signal from the keyboard.

I'm assuming there's something going on here with MIDI channels, and obviously the device closest to my PC is taking priority. I looked through the manuals of both devices and found their MIDI tables, but they don't have any information regarding changing MIDI channels.

Advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm just getting started with some serious equipment after living in the basic world of Reason and an M-Audio Oxygen8 keyboard for a long time. I'm ready to break free!

Thanks in advance

-Line-In

 

Welcome =)

Most MIDI instruments won't pass on anything received at their MIDI ins to their MIDI outs. What comes into the instrument is usually passed on by the MIDI thru port. If an instrument doesn't have a thru port, sometimes the MIDI out can be configured as a soft thru, but usually this then only works as a thru, and not an out for the keyboard/other device it's attached to.

What you're looking for is some kind of MIDI merger. Most multiport MIDI interfaces can merge inputs, and some instruments have soft merges built in, but they're few and far between. MIDI merges as standalone devices were fairly popular in the '80s and '90s- you should be able to find one for around $50 or less...

ew